The Blue Grass, Santa Anita Derby, and Wood Memorial were the latest road to Kentucky Derby 2026 prep races and Further Ado, So Happy, and Albus punched their tickets to Louisville. In this report, I will recap the aforementioned three Derby preps, update the points standings, and share my exceptional eleven Derby contenders.
I cover all of the Kentucky Derby 2026 points races on my Runaway Horse video channel, and through 36 points races, my top choices have 13 wins, 4 runner-up finishes, and 6 show finishes. The road to the Derby series concludes with the Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland on April 11.
Lexington field (race 10): 1 – Corona de Oro, 2 – Exhibition Only, 3 – Decisive Win, 4 – Enforced Agenda, 5 – Mister T, 6 – Ramblin, 7 – The Hell We Did, 8 – Trendsetter, 9 – Ezum, 10 – Confessional, 11 – I Did I Did
Kentucky Derby 2026 Points Race Recaps
Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland (9f): Further Ado ($3.70) made short work of this crew as the strong favorite. He stalked while out in the clear, took over, and romped by 11 lengths (106 BSF). Ottinho rallied for the place and Talkin stalked the pace and was best of the rest in third. Creole Chrome (4th), Great White (5th), Reagan’s Honor (6th), and Moonstrocity (7th) also ran. Class President and Ocelli scratched. Irad Ortiz, Jr. rode the winner for Brad Cox. Fractions: 23.60, 47.71, 1:11.80, 1:36.63, 1:49.58.
Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct (9f): This race was highly competitive and an upset almost seemed certain. Albus ($25.78) sat back in 8th, moved up, and closed nicely in the lane to win by a length and a quarter (83 BSF). Right to Party (38-1) rallied to nip fellow closer Ocelli (28-1) by a nose for the place, and Bravaro edged tiring front runner Napoleon Solo to round out the superfecta. Courting (6th), Iron Honor (7th), Talk to Me Jimmy (8th), Steel (9th), Minorinconvenience (10th), Buetane (11th), and Red Zone Runner (12th) also ran. Jaime Torres rode the winner for Riley Mott. Fractions: 22.92, 47.30, 1:12.04, 1:38.41, 1:51.71.
Grade 1 SA Derby at Santa Anita Park (9f): The race flow was turned upside down when Cherokee Nation lost his footing at the start from the inside post. With the inside speed out of the pace picture, his stablemate Potente dueled with Robusta, and the favorite put the latter away. A fresh challenge came from outside stalker So Happy and the race was on. Potente dug in but So Happy ($16.60) had the best late energy and won by 2 3/4 lengths (100 BSF). Potente was 6 3/4 lengths clear of 47-1 longshot Vitruvian Man. Intrepido was a wide fourth and Start the Ride (5th), Cherokee Nation (6th), and Robusta (7th) also ran. Mike Smith rode the winner for Mark Glatt. Fractions: 23.03, 46.79, 1:11.11, 1:36.16, 1:49.01.
Kentucky Derby 2026 Points Race Results (Top Choice Winners Bolded)
Iroquois (10-5-3-2-1) – Sept. 13 – Winner: Spice Runner ($12.38)
Champagne (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 4 – Winner: Napoleon Solo ($15.94)
American Pharoah (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 4 – Winner: Intrepido ($19.60)
Breeders’ Futurity (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 4 – Winner: Ted Noffey ($3.84)
Street Sense (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 26 – Winner: Incredibolt ($10.18)
BC Juvenile (30-15-9-6-3) – Oct. 31 – Winner: Ted Noffey ($3.60)
Ky Jockey Club (10-5-3-2-1) – Nov. 29 – Winner: Further Ado ($3.40)
Remsen (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 6 – Winner: Paladin ($5.76)
Los Al Futurity (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 13 – Winner: Litmus Test ($3.20)
Gun Runner (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 20 – Winner: Chip Honcho ($9.80)
Springboard Mile (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 20 – Winner: Express Kid ($71.00)
Jerome (10-5-3-2-1) – Jan. 3 – Winner: My World ($7.24)
Smarty Jones (10-5-3-2-1) – Jan. 3 – Winner: Strategic Risk ($7.00)
Lecomte (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 17 – Winner: Golden Tempo ($7.40)
Holy Bull (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 31 – Winner: Nearly ($5.40)
Southwest (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 6 – Winner: Silent Tactic ($26.00)
Withers (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 6 – Winner: Talk to Me Jimmy ($26.54)
Robert Lewis (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 7 – Winner: Plutarch ($10.20)
Sam F. Davis (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 7 – Winner: Renegade ($4.40)
Risen Star (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 14 – Winner: Paladin ($3.40)
Sunland Derby (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 15 – Winner: Pavlovian ($12.20)
John Battaglia Memorial (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 21 – Winner: Great White ($32.32)
Fountain of Youth (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 28 – Winner: Commandment ($6.80)
Gotham (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 28 – Winner: Iron Honor ($3.88)
Rebel (50-25-15-10-5) – March 1 – Winner: Class President ($19.00)
Tampa Bay Derby (50-25-15-10-5) – March 7 – Winner: The Puma ($16.80)
San Felipe (50-25-15-10-5) – March 7 – Winner: Potente ($18.20)
Virginia Derby (50-25-15-10-5) – March 14 – Winner: Incredibolt ($14.40)
Jeff Ruby Steaks (100-50-25-15-10) – March 21 – Winner: Fulleffort ($5.82)
Louisiana Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – March 21 – Winner: Emerging Market ($6.00)
Arkansas Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – March 28 – Winner: Renegade ($4.00)
Florida Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – March 28 – Winner: Commandment ($5.80)
UAE Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – March 28 – Winner: Wonder Dean
Blue Grass (100-50-25-15-10) – April 4 – Winner: Further Ado ($3.74)
SA Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – April 4 – Winner: So Happy ($16.60)
Wood Memorial (100-50-25-15-10) – April 4 – Winner: Albus ($25.78)
Lexington (20-10-6-4-2) – April 11
Top 30 Kentucky Derby 2026 Points Leaders (thru 4-6-26)
1 Commandment (150 points)
2 Further Ado (135 points)
3 Renegade (125 points)
4 So Happy (115 points)
5 Fulleffort (110 points)
6 The Puma (106 points)
7 Silent Tactic (100 points)
8 Emerging Market (100 points)
9 Albus (100 points)
10 Potente (100 points)
11 Pavlovian (70 points)
12 Right to Party (65 points)
13 Incredibolt (60 points)
14 Golden Tempo (60 points)
15 Ottinho (56 points)
16 Class President (50 points)
17 Stark Contrast (50 points)
18 Iron Honor (50 points)
19 Chief Wallabee (50 points)
20 Chip Honcho (49 points)
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21 Intrepido (38 points)
22 Universe (38 points)
23 Grittiness (36 points)
24 Talkin (35 points)
25 Nearly (35 points)
26 Bravaro (35 points)
27 Litmus Test (34 points)
28 Great White (30 points)
29 Napoleon Solo (25 points)
30 Ocelli (25 points)
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Mideast Road to Derby Qualifier (UAE Derby): Wonder Dean (1st), Six Speed (2nd)
Two horses can qualify on the Mideast road to the Derby and Wonder Dean and Six Speed are both expected to accept invitations to the Ky Derby.
Japan Road to Derby Qualifier (Fukuryu Stakes): Danon Bourbon (1st), Don Erectus (2nd)
Only one horse can qualify on the Japan road to the Derby and Danon Bourbon and Don Erectus are tied with 40 points. Don Erectus wins the tiebreaker on lifetime earnings but is not nominated to the Triple Crown series and is not expected to be made eligible. That development means that Danon Bourbon gets the invitation to run in the Ky Derby and his connections are considering a trip expected to Louisville.
Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven” Kentucky Derby 2026 Contenders (4-6-26)
1 – RENEGADE (Into Mischief – Spice is Nice, by Curlin) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Last Ranking (1)
Comments: This one has the best overall pattern. It is always a good sign when a quality juvenile runs faster in his first start as a 3-year-old. He did just that in the Sam F. Davis in February, and he moved forward again in another smart victory in the Arkansas Derby (G1). He is a quality late runner but does have the ability to stay within hailing distance of the early leaders, and he owns strong late pace ratings. He acts like he will handle a mile and a quarter and is one of the top Derby win contenders.
2 – COMMANDMENT (Into Mischief – Sippican Harbor, by Orb) – Trainer: Brad Cox – Last Ranking (2)
Comments: He won his last four starts and paired-up quality numbers in the FOY (G2) and Florida Derby (G1). I like his pattern and he is sharp and versatile, and he seems like he will handle a mile and a quarter.
3 – CHIEF WALLABEE (Constitution – A La Lucie by Medaglia d’Oro) – Trainer: Bill Mott – Last Ranking (3)
Comments: He has much in common with Potente. Both followed up debut sprint wins with graded route appearances second time out, and this one just missed in his stakes bow in the FOY (G2). He ran another quality race to finish a close third in the Florida Derby (G1). If he handles a mile and a quarter and moves forward a bit, he can compete for top award at Churchill.
4 – THE PUMA (Essential Quality – Eve of War, by Declaration of War) – Trainer: Gustavo Delgado – Last Ranking (4)
Comments: He uncorked a new top when graduating in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), and returned three weeks later and just missed in the Florida Derby (G1). The Ky Derby will be his first start in five weeks and he is on the upswing.
5 – FURTHER ADO (Gun Runner – Sky Dreamer, by Sky Mesa) – Trainer: Brad Cox – Last Ranking (11)
Comments: His Blue Grass (G1) romp was visually impressive and he is the new Derby favorite. Can he duplicate that effort at CD? Based on his pattern, I am not so sure. Both of his wins were romps at KEE. After his facile maiden win, he regressed when winning the Ky Jockey Club (G2). His runner-up finish in the TB Derby (G3) was okay, and he broke through with a new top in the Blue Grass. He has yet to run fast in back-to-back races but that does not mean he won’t in the future. It is possible that he is peaking at the right time.
6 – EMERGING MARKET (Candy Ride – Wild Empress, by Empire Maker) – Trainer: Chad Brown – Last Ranking (5)
Comments: He followed up a fast dirt route debut win with a game victory in the LA Derby (G2) at 1 3/16 miles. He ran faster in his bow but has only raced twice and it takes a special talent to go from debut route winner to graded hero second time out. He has positional speed and a ton of raw talent, but winning a race like the Derby with just two career starts is a very big ask.
7 – FULLEFFORT (Liam’s Map – Callmethesqueeze, by Awesome Again) – Trainer: Brad Cox – Last Ranking (6)
Comments: The longer the better for this one. He proved that with a decisive score in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at 1 1/8 miles last time. The main concern is the move from all-weather ground to conventional dirt.
8 – GOLDEN TEMPO (Curlin – Carrumba, by Bernardini) – Trainer: Cherie DeVaux – Last Ranking (7)
Comments: I have no doubt that he has the stamina to handle a mile and a quarter. He is also slowly getting faster and I like his pattern. I am concerned about his lack of positional speed and he needs to improve a few lengths to compete for the win at CD.
9 – SILENT TACTIC (Tacitus – Magical Sign, by Gun Runner) – Trainer: Mark Casse – Last Ranking (10)
Comments: His consistency is his strength. He just goes out there and runs his closing race every time. I trust him to run his normal quality race in the Derby but he will need to run a bit faster to compete with the top contenders.
10 – POTENTE (Into Mischief – Sweet Sting, by Awesome Again) – Trainer: Bob Baffert – Last Ranking (13)
Comments: He had no starts last year and has accomplished a lot since Jan. 31. After winning his sprint bow, he was thrown into the San Felipe (G2) at 1 1/6 miles and he surged late to win that event. He did all of the pace dirty work and was second best in the SA Derby (G1) last weekend. He is lightly raced and versatile, and he is getting faster.
11 – SO HAPPY (Runhappy – So Cunning, by Blame) – Trainer: Mark Glatt – Last Ranking (unranked)
Comments: His pattern is a bit murky. He ran faster when winning the San Vicente (G2) second time out, and regressed when finishing third in the San Felipe (G2). He bounced back with a new top in a nice victory in the SA Derby (G1). His 100 BSF in the SA Derby was solid, but I am not sure about him equalling or bettering that number at a mile and a quarter on the first Saturday in May.
Next Nine: (12) Class President, (13) Incredibolt, (14) Pavlovian, (15) Albus, (16) Stark Contrast, (17) Right to Party, (18) Wonder Dean, (19) Six Speed, (20) Danon Bourbon
